Alabama Power lineman Doug Buford brings ‘family’ to Mulherin Home in Mobile
Doug Buford said he feels like he gets more than he gives from volunteering at Mulherin Home in Mobile. (Karim Shamsi-Basha/Alabama NewsCenter)
The two words “family” and “happy” are the highest goals for most people.
Alabama Power lineman Doug Buford sees the “happy” in the residents of the Mulherin Home when he volunteers there. Buford is a humble and a quiet man who doesn’t say much about his accomplishments. But according to Mulherin Home Executive Director Sarah Laurio, Buford has fulfilled the second of those goals, “family,” with her residents.
Doug Buford provides, receives “family” at Mulherin Home in Mobile from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
“Doug is an incredible man with an amazing and giving heart. We have 32 residents who live here full time. About half of them have families that are really involved, and the other half doesn’t have any family,” Laurio said. “So we are their family, and we want to run our home as a family. People like Doug not only improve the yard and attend birthday parties, they are that family.”
Buford became involved with the Mulherin Home through the Mobile Chapter of the Alabama Power Service Organization. APSO is a nonprofit volunteer group that includes Alabama Power, Southern Nuclear, SouthernLINC and Southern Company Services employees and their families. APSO focuses on serving the community by supporting charitable projects and promoting the core values of Alabama Power’s charitable giving efforts, including education, the environment and health and human services.
“In some of these situations that seem sad, you come here and they are as happy as can be,” Buford said. “They always have a smile on their face. It’s a beautiful place.”
Buford and other APSO volunteers work on the home to repair and build things. They are also there for the “family” and “happy” aspects of their service. They throw monthly parties for the residents, hold special events like a Halloween trick-or-treat, and attend a Mobile BayBears baseball game twice a year.
I asked Buford why he does this.
“On a personal level, this has really opened my eyes to seeing what is out there and how important it is to give back to your community. It also made me realize how lucky I am that my family and my kids are healthy, and that we are in a position to give back,” Buford said.
Happiness through the small actions of the Mulherin Home residents became apparent after visiting for a couple of hours. One male resident hugged Buford while he was reading to him, and another gave him a high five with a big smile while playing a board game.
Buford may have thought he was going to help build and repair things at the Mulherin home. What dawned on him much later is that he also contributed to make the place feel like a happy family.
To learn more about APSO, visit http://powerofgood.com/apso/
Alabama NewsCenter is celebrating linemen throughout the state during the seven weeks between National Lineman Appreciation Day on April 18 and Alabama Lineman Appreciation Day on June 6. Read some of our coverage here and thank those linemen like Doug Buford working in your community.
Alabama Bright Lights captures the stories, through words, pictures and video, of some of our state’s brightest lights who are working to make Alabama an even better place to live, work and play. Award-winning journalist Karim Shamsi-Basha tells their inspiring stories. Email him comments, as well as suggestions on people to profile, at karimshamsibasha@gmail.com.
